Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybkina reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time on Monday and confidently declared: “I have a gift”.
The Russian-born 17th seed defeated Petra Martic of Croatia 7-5, 6-3.
Rybakina, who changed nationality in Kazakhstan in 2018, made it to the last eight without losing a set.
Rybakina, an impressive six feet (1.84m) tall who still lives in Moscow, has hit 29 aces in the tournament so far.
In Monday’s win over Martic on Court One, he also scored the tournament’s second-fastest serve – 122 miles (196 kilometers) per hour.
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During the siege, he saved 17 of 23 break points in four rounds.
“I have never compared myself to anyone. All I know is that I have this gift. I’m tall and I play really fast,” Rybakina said.
“It’s simple, I’d say. It’s not something I’m working out at the gym or anything else. It’s my weapon, and I’m trying to use it as much as I can.”
The 23-year-old will play in her second Grand Slam quarterfinal, having also reached the last eight at the French Open in 2021.
Despite her mighty game, Rybakina struggled in the build-up to Wimbledon, winning only one of three grass-court matches.
“This year I would say I didn’t start well. I wasn’t so confident because I didn’t have a good preparation. I was injured, got sick in Paris, and I couldn’t recover,” Rybakina said.
“But maybe I was more relaxed. I’m still more relaxed, enjoying my time here.”
For a place in the semi-finals, Rybakina will face either Alize Cornet of France or Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia.
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